Rotary snowplow



Feb. 21, 1950 E. ,G. BERG ETAL 2,498,522

ROTARY SNOWPLOW Filed Feb. 28; 1945 '7 She'ets-Sheet n cu\ (9 u.

[ cu m co m nm N E l g 9g Q Q Q Q Q o :2 :0- s Q o O u '6 N m INVENTOR. EGON G. BERG BYAREND VOORDERMAN ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1950 Filed Feb. 28, 1945 lOl E. G. BERG ET AL ROTARY SNOWPLOW 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 JNVENTOR. EGON G. BERG AREND VOURDERMAN ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1950 E. G. BERG ET AL ROTARY SNOWPLOW '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb 28, 1945 INVENTOR. EGON G. BERG BY AREHD VOORDERMAN ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1950 E. G. BERG ETAL 2,498,522

ROTARY SNOWPLOW Filed Feb. 28, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

EGON G. BERG ARE -JD VOORDERMAN ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1950 Filed Feb. 28, 1945 E. s. BERG ET AL ROTARY SNOWPLOW 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1950 E. G..BERG ET AL 2,498,522

ROTARY SNOWPLOW Filed Feb. 28, 1945 Q 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR. EGON G. BERG BY AREND VOORDERMAN ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 21, 1950 ROTARY SNOWPLOW Egon G. Berg and Arend Voorderman,'Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assignors to Universal Engineering Corporation, Cedar ration of Iowa.

:Rapids, lower, a corpo Application rebruary'zs,m aseriam ssoaer v 3 Claims. (01. s7 4s) This invention relates generally to road: machinery and is particularly concerned with snow removal apparatus.

' The object and general nature of this invention lies in the provision of new and improved snow removal equipment particularly adapted for highway use, especially in conjunction with snow plows of the blade type; A more specific feature of this invention is the provision of a snow removal device adapted to be mounted on a truck and used to "widen the passage produced by the initial use of blade trucks. Particularly, it is a feature of this invention to provide a device for removing snow from the side walls of windrowed or piled snow banks, so constructed and arranged that only one handling of the snow is necessary.

A further and important feature of this invention is the provision of a snow removing unit that is especially adapted to be used in conjunction with both light and heavy blade type snow removal plows but which does not require additional trucks.

At the present time, snow removal practices inmost generaluse include the initial use of light blade'push plows mounted on light trucks of the type needed for variousjobs throughout the year, and of which most State highway departments usually have quite a large number. These light trucks are fitted with straight blade plows and are'started in operation as soon as snow begins to accumulate on the "highways and ordinarily can be depended upon to sweep the snow off the highway asfas't' as it falls;

If the intensity of the storm" increases to the point that the light trucks 'are unable to keep the highways 'clear, then the heavier trucks are brought out", equipped with heavier straight blade or V-type plowsl The'heavier equipment is usually able to handle moderate amounts of snow?" fall but, like the light weight trucks and straight blades, all that the heavier equipment can do is to push the snow to one side of the pavement, usually over onto the shoulder. With the heavier snowfalls, even the larger equipment has to-be used several times .at any one place, that is, it has to make several passes before a passage of suificient width can be maintained, and at each pass all thesnow previously handled on the last passmust be rehandled.

Under conditions requiring the heavier equipment, as. above, thelight plows are of no further use: andare placed out of service whilethe heavy plows attempt to, do all .the Work. r

, By merely-pushing the snow to the-sides of the road even the. heavier. plows are unable to get th snow completely off of and away from the high-' way. The heavier the snowfall" the larger the piles or 'windrows of snow along the sides, and

these piles or windrows serve as'obstructions' which accumulate more and more snow on the exact spots where it is the most difiicult to re-' move.

With the above factors in mind, the present" invention contemplates the provision of means that can be mounted on the light or heavy trucks as desired and used to remove snow from the sides of high banks and windrows piled along the sides of the highway by the blade trucks, and this without requiring any rehandling of the show. In this" way, by mounting the side removal units on the light trucks very little additional equipment is necessary, yet very heavy snows can be handled" easily, especially in conjunction with the initial use of the light blade trucks, followed by the heavier plows and then with the light trucks" equipped with the side removal units of the present invention.

Another very important object and feature of this invention is that 'the'snow removing means is so constructed as to bemounted'for side op-. eration but even though side mounted it conforms to conditions of available clearances'for" travel.

Front mounted plows have a basic weakness in that only one cutcan be taken. It isall or noth-" If the plow cannot take all of the cut it ing. will get stuck.' We therefore, as a part of our invention; provide aside mounted snow removal device, but although the plow or' snow removal device is side mounted, 'means" arev provided whereby the snow removal device may be swung in to the normal truck width for transportation and this is another-object of our invention.

Still another important object *of our invention is to provide means for taking snow out in one v Figure 2 is a rear view, showing the snow removal unit swung around into a transport posi- Figure 3 is a side view of the outfit shown in Figure 2; I fi r a,.ton o n a r ewr hewm th nq Referring first to Figure 1, the snow removal I unit with which the present invention is more directly concerned is indicated by the referencenumber I and is shown as mounted on a truck 2 of the type commonly owned and/or operated by state highway departments and the like. The truck 2 has front steering wheels 3 and rear dual driving wheels 4. The chassis 5 of the truck 2 includes frame channels ",8 forming a part of the frame I of the truck 2. The'operators cab of the truck is shown at 8.

: Rearwardly of the cab 8 the truck frame carries a turntable I5 which includes a stationary frame or base I6 mounted directly on the frame channels, 6 and a rotatable turntable frame II, connected together by suitable vertical bearing means I9 (Figure 4). Preferably, the base I5 carries a circular track 2| suitably secured thereto; and the rotatable frame has rollers or other suitable means (not shown) cooperating therewith. A" pair of hydraulic units 23 and 24 are anchored at their outer ends to the base and are connected at 25 and 26 to a pivot lever 2I that is fastened to the rotatable turntable frame II, whereby the latter may be swung about the pivot axis I9 by power. The rams 23 and 24 are operated by hydraulic power and controlled by suitable valve means in the operators cab 8 or any other suitable location on the truck. The frame ll-"has' a lateral extension 28 'made up of a pair of laterally extending frame members 29 and 30 to which other frame members 33, 34 and 35 forming a part of the rotatable turntable I! are connected. The lateral frame extension 28 is reenforced by one or more cross bars 31 (Figure 2).

An A-frame 40 is erected on the turntable frame extension 28 and at its apex it has a pair of brackets 4| which are apertured to receive a shaft 43 to which a pair of links 44 and 45 are rigidlyconnected, as by welding. For additional rigidity gusset plates 46 may be welded to the shaft 43 and the links '44 and 45. A pair of lower links 4! and 48 are pivoted, as at 5|, to a I pair of brackets 52 and 53 secured to the channel 30 adjacent the outer end thereof. Preferably, a shaft or the like forms the pivots 5|, and the shaft 5| has an arm 55 secured thereto and extended upwardly, as at 56, to form a stop. A hydraulic jack or ram 5! is anchored to a bracket 58 that is fixed to one of the cross bars 31, and at its other end the ram unit 5! is pivoted to the lower end of the arm 55. Extension or retraction of the ram 5! acts through the shaft 5| to raise and lower the links 44, 45, 41 and 48.

' The units that cut and remove the snow comprise rotatable members, which will be referred to later in detail, mounted in a compartment50, which includes a pair of side walls 5|, and 52, and a back wall 53. A'lower 'wall 54, of the com partment slopes forwardly and downwardly and carries" lower stationary cutting" element -'55. Joined to the back wall 53, is a rear compartmentfill'whi'c'h communicates at its lower-*endwith'the .4 lower part of the forward chamber 50, the communication being established through an opening 63. At the upper or discharge end of the rear chamber 6|, there is a plurality of flexible guide vanes 65, best shown in Figure 5. These flexible elements are rigidly fixed at their lower ends to the walls of the rear chamber 6|, and at their upper ends are connected together by links 51.

The rear wall I I, of the rear chamber 6|, flares outwardly at its upper end to form a backing for the flexible vanes 65, in either of their extreme positions. An operating link I3 is pivotally conneoted at I4, to the upper end of the adjacent deflector vane 65, and at its other end, the link I3 is pivoted at 15, to the upper end of an operating arm I6. The lower end of the arm I6 is fixed to a cross shaft I8 in bearings or the like I8.

The bearings I8 are supported on one of the two side channels 8 I which are connected in any suitable way with the upper ends of the compartments' 50, and 6 I, as best shown in Figure 1. The rear ends of these channels are apertured to receive pivots 82, by which the outer ends of the associated upper links 44, and 45, Figure 2, are connected to the compartments 50 and 5|. Cen trally adjacent their lower ends, the compart' ments 50 and 5| carry bearing plates 84, and these plates carry pivots to which the outer ends of the lower links 41 and 48 are connected. Thus, extension or retraction of the ram 51 serves to raise and lower the compartments 50 and 6| together with the rotatable elements carried therein. The deflector control shaft I8 is operated by a hand wheel 90, to shift the deflectorvanes 65 into the desired position.

The uppermost rotary element is indicated by the reference numeral I00, and comprises a spinner which includes a shaft IOI having a plurality of discs I02 mounted thereon. As best shown in Figure 9, the peripheral portion of each disc I02 carries a plurality of knives I04. As best shown in Figure 5, the shaft IOI is supported for rotation in bearings I05 and I06 mounted on the side walls of the forward compartment 50. A lower spinner I08, similar in construction to the one just described, is mounted in bearings I08. The lower spinner I08, includes a shaft II I, discs H2, and knives or cutting elements II3, fixed to the peripheral portions of the discs I I2, as best shown in Figure 8..

mounted on a shaft H1 in the lower portion of the front chamber 50. The rotor and impeller member H6 is of particular construction. As best shown in Figure 5, the rotor H6, includes a pair of heads I'2I notched peripherally as at I22 to form a series of generally radially extendingarms I23. Each pair'of arms receives a pair of cross members I25 and I26 fixed as by weldingto the outer end of the arms I23. The outer members I 26 are sharpened, as at I2I, to formcutting blades spaced radially from the inner cross members I25. V-shaped sheets I3I are disposed in the notches I22 and are welded at their ends to the edges of the arms I23. One

or more struts I32 connect the intermediate portions of the cross members I25 with the corresponding portions of the'blades I26 for strength'-" ening and reenforcing the latter. 'As best shown in'Fi'gure'fi, the rotor H6 is mounted so that the rear 'portion thereof'moves through the throat 63,- and upwardly in the lower-portion of the rear chamber 6|, the rear wall of the rear chamber 6| being curved, as at I34, to correspond; to' the path of movement of the rotor blades I26. h

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6; a sprocket MI is mounted on the inner end of the shaft IOI' and-a similar sprocket I42 is mounted on the inner'end of the shaft III. A roller chain I44is-trained over these sprockets as shown'in Figure 6, so that the shafts and associated spinnrs are. rotated in opposite directions at its lower end. The chain I44 is trained over a sprocket I46 fixed to the inner end of the rotor shaft II'I. As best shown in Figure 3, shield sheets I48 .and I49 are carried in the forward compartment 50 to enclose the chain I44 and associated parts.

Power for driving the elements described above is provided for in the form of a motor I60 mounted on the turn table frame I1 adjacent the A-frame 40. Suitable power transmission mechanism, including controlling clutches and the like, are enclosed by a casing IBI, and serves to drive a transverse drive shaft I62 (Figure 4). One or more sprockets I63 are fixed to the outer end of the drive shaft I62, and receive chain means I64 which transmits the drive from the drive shaft I 62 to sprockets I65 fixed to the rotor shaft II'i, axially inwardly of the sprocket I46.

The operation of the structure described above is substantially as follows:

Figure 3, shows the turntable I'I swung around into a transport position in which the compartment containing the spinners and rotor is disposed in a position generally behind the truck cab 8. As best shown in Figure 2, in this position of the turntable H, the motor I60 is disposed at one side of the truck substantially over the left rear wheels while the rotor and associated parts are disposed generally over the right rear wheels of the truck. When the turntable has been swung into the position just described, a truck equipped with my snow removal unit is not substantially wider than any ordinary truck. The turntable is swung into and out of transport position by operation of the hydraulic rams 23 and 24.

When it is desired to bring my snow removal units into operation all that the operator has to do is to actuate the proper valve to cause the rams 23 and 24 to swing the turntable II around into the position shown in Figures 1 and 4. This disposes the front compartment 50 with its open side facing forwardly. The truck 2 is then driven along side the snow bank or piled or windrowed snow, andthe ram 51 is then actuated to lower or raise the chamber 50 as conditions may require. The spinners and rotor are then driven while the truck is driven forwardly. The spinners, together with the blades I26, break up the snow into small pieces and as the outfit progresses forwardly the snow thus removed is impelled through the throat 63 by the rotor II 6 and directed upwardly through the rear chamber 6|.

The deflectors 65, are adjusted into the proper position to throw the snow entirely away from the zone of operation. As will be seen from Figure 1, the snow removal unit overhangs the truck at one side thereof so that the unit may be advanced into a snow bank situated, for example, along the shoulder of the highway while all wheels of the truck remain on the pavement. This affords adequate traction. Usually, even a high bank of 'snow'will seldom require more than two passes, the first'to remove the upper half of the snow, and the other to remove the lower half, to thus remove all of the snow at the side of the highway for a width equal to the width of the unit 50. The

deflectors throw the snow entirely away from the zone of operation so that, if it should be desiredto clear off-the shoulders, only one or two additional-'pa'sse's-will be required since there is no rehandling of the snow.

By means of our invention, snow can be removed in. one or more horizontal cuts or layers, as desired. For instance, a shallow cut may be made to remove a heavy ice crust and then heavier, deeper cuts to remove unpacked snow. Benches or ledges of snow may be constructed to prevent vehicles from leaving the road. Horizontal cuts may be made over guard rails, rocks or other obstacles to permit later accumulations of snow to be piled up.

It is to be understood that our invention, as defined by the appended claims, may be incorporated in structures differing from that described above.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a snow removal device, a mobile support, a turntable mounted thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, a frame mounted on the turntable, the said frame having a portion thereof, generally to the rear of the vertical axis, extending transversely beyond one side of the mobile support, a braced framework mounted upon and extending upwardly from the transversely extending portion of the frame, a casing disposed forward of the frame extension and at the side of the mobile support, vertically swingable arms extending generally forwardly from the braced framework and operatively connecting the said braced framework and the casing whereby movement of the casing is permitted in a vertical plane substantially parallel with the direction of motion of the mobile support, and means for securing the arms and the casing in any desired position.

2. In a snow removal device, a mobile support, a turntable mounted thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, a frame mounted on the turntable, the said frame having a portion thereof, generally to the rear of the vertical axis, extending transversely beyond one side of the mobile support, a braced framework mounted upon and extending upwardly from the transversely extending portion of the frame, a casing disposed forward of the frame extension, generally forward of the vertical axis and at the side of the mobile support, vertically swingable arms extending generally forwardly from the braced framework and operatively connecting the said braced framework and the casing whereby movement of the casing is permitted in a vertical plane substantially parallel with the direction of the motion of the mobile support, and means for securing the arms and the casing in any desired position.

3. ma snow removal device, a mobile support, a turntable mounted thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, a frame mounted on the turntable,

the said frame having a portion thereof, generally to the rear of the vertical axis, extending transversely beyond one side of the mobile support, an A frame mounted upon and extending upwardly from the transversely extending portion of the frame, a casing disposed forward of the frame extension and at the side of the mobile support, an upper pair of spaced parallel arms hingedly connected between the casing and the A frame. at the upper part thereof, a lower pair of spaced parallel arms hingedly connected between the frame extension and, the casing, the said upper and lower pairs of arms being parallel, and of substantially equal lengths, and lifting means operatively connected with the lower arms and adapted to selectively lower or raise the said arms and the casing.

' EGON G. BERG.

AREND VOORDERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATESP'ATENTS Name Date Shappell Sept. 8, 1931 McCallum May 31, 1938 Van Voorhis Dec. 20, 1938 Klauer Jan. 17, 1939 Bemis et a1 Feb. 13, 1940 Voorderman Apr. 23, 1940 Klauer Dec. 3, 1940 Jensen Dec. 17, 1940 Jensen Dec. 21, 1943 Cadwell Dec. 4, 1945 

